Illinois Sen. Hilton’s regulatory update bill for athletic trainers and respiratory care passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton seeks to update regulatory and licensure procedures for athletic trainers and respiratory care practitioners, aiming to clarify professional standards and disciplinary processes, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 74 Democrats and 39 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 37 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Hilton introduced the bill in the Illinois Senate on Feb. 7, 2025 during the 104th session.

The legislation, known as SB2494, was passed on May 22, 2025 during the general assembly session 104.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill’s official text as follows: “Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Changes the repeal date of the Respiratory Care Practice Act from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2031. Amends the Respiratory Care Practice Act. Adds provisions concerning address of record and email address of record. Removes the requirement that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation maintain a roster of the names and addresses of all licenses and all persons whose licenses have been suspended, revoked, or denied renewal for cause within the previous calendar year. Changes the membership of the Respiratory Care Board to 5 persons of which 3 members shall be currently engaged in the practice of respiratory care and one member who is a hospital administrator (rather than 7 persons of which 4 members shall be currently engaged in the practice of respiratory care and two members who are hospital administrators). Provides that a majority of the Board members (rather than 4) shall constitute a quorum. Provides that an applicant shall include the applicant’s Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number in an application to the Department (rather than only the applicant’s Social Security Number). Provides that the Department shall provide a certified shorthand reporter to take down the testimony and preserve the record of all proceedings at a formal hearing (rather than the Department preserving the record). Provides that provisions concerning the repeal date of the Act are effective immediately. Makes other changes.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends various sections of the Illinois Regulatory Sunset Act and updates licensure and regulation procedures for athletic trainers and respiratory care practitioners in the state. It sets new repeal dates for certain acts, such as the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act and the Respiratory Care Practice Act, now set for January 1, 2031. The bill also revises qualifications, licensure, and renewal processes, including the provision of an address and email address of record. Additional adjustments include the authority of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and its ability to conduct investigations, hold hearings, and impose disciplinary actions. The bill clarifies that activities related to spiritual healing, family-provided care, and supervision-exempt activities are not restricted by this Act. Furthermore, the bill provides guidelines for handling disciplinary actions, including fines and the process for restoring expired licenses, among other procedural elements. The Section 99 of the bill, along with specific provisions, takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Bob Morgan (Democrat-58th District), Rep. Jawaharial Williams (Democrat-10th District), and Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford (Democrat-4th District).

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Hilton graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1983 with a BA.

Hilton, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 23rd Senate District, replacing previous state senator Diane Pappas.

Some lawmakers were in the chamber but did not cast any vote, listed as “Not Voting”. Others were not present—either marked “Absent” without explanation or noted as having an “Excused Absence” due to personal or medical reasons.